Tag Archives: Shirts

Austin, Texas is a growing trendy city that’s located in one of the friendliest states in the United States to start a new business. Two friends from the Northeast are now trying to take advantage of that while trying to export a preppy style around the United States.

Menswear Criquet Shirts was founded by Hobson Brown and Billy Nachman. The two New Yorkers came grew up together at the time of the 1980’s prep-fashion that included the likes of L.L. Bean sweaters, Docksiders and polo shirts. Their coming of age during this year is what mainly influences their approach to designing Criquet’s wide and colorful selection of leisure shirts and sweaters.

The east coast, especially New York, is a fashion goldmine but the founders of Criquet wanted to begin their store in the growing city of Austin, who has a reputation for being a business and technology-friendly hub. A 2016 American Business Journal study ranked Austin as the number one city in the United States to start a small business.

“Austin has a laid-back vibe and a real appreciation for the work-life balance,” Brown said. “And that’s an attitude that we want to capture with our shirts. It’s a uniquely Texas brand.”

Criquet is taking advantage of the tremendous growth of the men’s apparel market. Research from IBISWorld shows online menswear grew at an average rate of more than 17 percent over a 5-year period, generating an annual revenue more than $20 billion.

Criquet has one brick and mortar store in Austin, but its primary source of revenue is from its online website. The website currently makes up for 80 percent of the company’s total sales. Criquet maintains retail locations at approximately 150 private stores, including pro-shops and country clubs in Palm Beach and Jackson Hole.

“We’re well positioned for future growth, and we want to do it right,” Brown told CNBC in a recent interview.

Criquet says its apparel is designed to “be worn with jeans and cowboy boots, dress slacks, or even shorts”. Brown says, “they’re great for work, play and relaxing… for your own ‘19th Hole’.”

The term ‘19th Hole’ is a slang term used that refers to a bar or restaurant near a golf course.

The 19th Hole is “a mythical place where, after a hard day’s work, you go to relax and recharge. And that’s deeply personal, so it means a lot of things for different people,” Nachman said.

In Austin, it could be golf, or it could be sitting around a fire pit with a cooler of beer, fishing on Lake Travis, or pub-crawling on 6th Street. It’s not ‘work hard, play hard.’ It’s ‘work hard, then hit the 19th Hole…wherever that 19thHole is, for you.”

Criquet has one major advantage most new apparel brands don’t have. A star name who can serve as a pitch man. Hobson and Nachman signed a deal with Hollywood actor and native Texan Luke Wilson, who also attended the University of Texas. “This was kismet, for all of us,” Brown told CNBC in an interview.

We saw Luke wearing one of our shirts on a late-night talk-show. After the show, we reached out to him through a mutual friend, and sent him a few shirts. Not long after, he visited our store in downtown Austin, one thing led to another, and now he’s not only the face of our brand, he’s a partner, too.”

Nachman says Wilson was the perfect choice to promote Criquet Shirts. “Luke is the everyman with an edge. He’s a Texan who just happens to live and work in Hollywood. He’s laid-back and likable, and really personifies our Texas lifestyle brand.”

Untucked shirts have become a growing trend among the fashion world but one entrepreneur took the style to a different level. Chris Riccobono is the founder of UNTUCKit and has recently opened his first ever New Jersey store this past Wednesday at the Mall of Short Hills. The new store will be his 18th store for the brand that was created in 2011.

Riccobono went to Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey where wearing your shirt untucked got you a detention. Riccobono now has the chance to wear his shirt untucked everywhere he goes. He’s turned the subtle fashion style into his fast-growing brand.

UNTUCKit got going as an e-commerce brand, selling shirts that were specifically designed to be untucked. Now 7 years later the brand has branched out sweater, shoes, and shorts. The fashion brand has even included a women’s line also sporting the untucked style shirts. Riccobono plans to even add a kid’s line come November 2. All the shirts range from $68 and $98.

After Riccobono went through all his schooling, Don Bosco in 1997, Providence College in 2001, and then Columbia University in 2007, he felt the need to start a business that sold quality shirts that are the perfect length to be left untucked. He says, “getting the right length is the key to a good-looking untucked shirt”.

Riccobono and co-founder Aaron Sanandres are riding the wave of the casual trend in menswear. Tim Bess, a men’s fashion trend analyst for the Doneger Group believes the brand came at a perfect time. “we’re definitely in a comfort-driven cycle in fashion right now, and there’s nothing more comfortable than having your shirt untucked.” Bess says.

Riccobono believes that most of their sales will continue to come from online shoppers, however, he believes physical stores can push the brand to the next level.

“we’ll always stay e-comm focused – that will always be 80-plus percent of our business”, he continues, “But in order to grow to where we want to be, which is a billion-dollar brand, you need to be in brick-and-mortar”. “there are a lot of men who won’t buy without touching or feeling the product.” Riccobono says.

Brick-and-mortar stores for UNTUCKit will reach out to a wider audience for the brand and can provide a place for the company to test the response of consumers to some of their new products. According to Marshal Cohen, chief retail industry analyst for the NPD group, he believes that UNTUCKit is doing well because they are “building the product the way the consumer wants it”.

UNTUCKit stores range from 1,200 to 1,500 square feet. So far, the brand has stores in places like Soho and even at some of the biggest malls like King of Prussia and Mall of America. Three more stores are scheduled to be introduced next month in Manhattan. The company plans to have around 25 stores by the end of the year and even plan to go international like Canada or England.

Untucked shirts have become a growing trend in the past couple years that even other companies are trying to sell their own design. Amazon.com, for example, has a “No Tuck” category in their men’s catalog. Riccobono says the competition doesn’t worry him, because of the aggressive marketing he’s had since creating the brand. He’s done ads across all platforms to take the lead in the growing market. Riccobono states, “we’ve become the authority in how to wear the shirt untucked”.

The typical dress attire has changed in multiple aspects. These helpful tips will allow you to update your formal attire to be the best-dressed man! Numerous dress code rules that were established throughout previous decades are vanishing or loosening right in front of our own eyes. This allows each man to create easier and more appropriate outfits for dressier occasions. As street wear, sportswear, and gender fluidity continue to rise across numerous collections, it becomes known within the mainstream fashion.

One of the dress codes that have changed revolves around coordination and color appropriation. The old dress code consisted of different shades of grey, navy, and black. The new revamped style allows men to coordinate with layers of different colors and patterns. In this new generation of style code, a tie has become optional as well. A simple T-shirt and jeans can be just as appropriate for the office for certain occasions.

In the olden days, wedding suits were known to be a plain solid dark color. By bringing color into the man’s wedding attire, this allows character and sensibility. The combination of styles, silhouettes, and ascents are now a factor within the fashion of men at weddings.

Remember the good old nightclub days, when you had to wear black dress shoes? Well, those days are gone! Now, a simple white tennis shoe is appropriate for the nightclub or evening event scenery. This shoe allows a versatile array of options as it can coordinate with countless outfits.

Back in the day, crew necks were for the day to keep casual attire, as collared shirts were worn to evening events to resemble formal attire. In the 21st Century, a contemporary-casual is the norm that allows men to create multiple combinations, which can be worn during the day or night for any occasion. Basic necessities consist of tailored trousers, plain crew neck T-shirt, loopback sweatshirt, sneakers, and a casual bomber jacket.

Gender fluidity continues to influence multiple brands, which is a major step in the fashion industry this decade. Recent trends that have crossed over into men’s fashion have consisted of embroidery, looser trousers, sliders, and round sunglasses.

Jogger pants in the past were known to be worn only around the house, to do errands, or go to the gym. Now, they can revamp an entire outfit by adding street style to the pieces. Adidas and Louis Vuitton have partnered with Supreme to work on luxury sportswear items that can be worn during any casual occasion.

Hopefully these helpful new rules allow you to revamp your style into the 21st Century!

For quite some time now, multiple brands have been finding their influence for recent fashion trends throughout numerous achieves of collections especially from the 90s. From Tommy Hilfiger to GAP, the 90s style is just beginning its comeback!

Recently the Fila Brand decided to collaborate with Barneys New York for the inspirational 90s fashion collection. The collection features a total of eight different pieces ranging from $95 to $165. Within the collection, the brand resembles some of the staple pieces from the 90s such as a half-zip jacket, long-sleeve jacket, and a redesigned 90s tennis shoe. This collection revamped the 90s style trends with updated shapes, fabrics, and colors.

The Fila brand updated signature colors from navy to black to pair with multiple pieces in the collection to detail a luxe laid-back style that resembles Barneys Department Store as well. This collection is an exclusively featured collaboration at the Barneys Department Store and is part of the BNY Solo Series Collection. The BNY Solo Collection is a project of collaborations sold at the department store. Other exclusive collaborations that Barneys Department Store has been involved in the past with consists of multiple limited edition series such as Stan Smith, Filling Pieces, and Vans.

Some of the favorite pieces from the collection consist of the Striped Cotton Polo Shirt, the Original Tennis Leather Sneaker, the Colorblocked Track Jacket, the Tricot Half-Zip Pullover, and the Tricot Basketball Shorts. Most of the exclusively favorite pieces resemble three main colors of black, white, and red. Most of which feature the solid colors and stripes. All of these phenomenal 90s fashion favorites can be yours by buying them exclusively at Barneys.com for a limited time only! So what are you waiting for? Go buy the essentials to be the 90s kid you once were and rock it like it is 1999!

If you haven’t checked out Criquet Shirts, you’re missing out. Founders Billy Nachman and Hobson Brown started this brand after wearing collared shirts to an all-boys school growing up. This quickly became their signature style, yet after some time they had either lost their favorite polos or they had been worn out. After this sad occurrence, the duo decided that they wanted more control and began designing shirts by creating the combination of sustainable designs, being environmentally friendly, with the classic preppy look.

$75 Available at Criquet Shirts

This brand now has great golf shirts and polo’s along with button downs and sweaters for great style year round. If you’re just looking for a casual day look, definitely try on of their Classic Pique Polo’s, available in a variety of colors. Their Players Shirts are also a great option for a day just hanging out with the guys playing poker. This style is slightly more casual than the classic polo.

$85-$115 Available at Criquet Shirts

For a chilly fall day, check out their Cashmere Sweaters, which will keep you warm and stylish. Looking for a date night style? Don’t worry, they have button downs that come in short and long sleeves so you can look your best no matter the weather. Criquet also designs shirts for boys as well as hats and visors.

Love the polo style? Check out this brand and find your new favorite shirt today.

“Why bother with bright colors and eccentric patterns,” they’ll say. “It only adds busyness to your already busy life,” they’ll advise. I get it, and to each their own. But here at FashionMR we cling to the notion that we all have one life to live and that it should be a blast. So lets embrace new patterns and colors that aren’t considered “safe” or “easy.”

GinghamReminiscent of a classic picnic table cover, the Gingham is a rather trending shirt pattern. Found in a variety of bright colors, this pattern is perfect for many occasions. And the bright colors make this perfect for adding some modern splash to any outfit. If you’re looking to add some colorful changes to your setup, I suggest you start with these patterns.

via WiseGeek.com

TartanThe term itself might not be familiar, but the pattern definitely is. Popular in kilt form and as a Burberry pattern, this pattern isn’t as easy to match as the Gingham. Since most Tartan patterns come with multiple colors, if you plan on finding a color to match with, commit to one color. Your outfit will just look cluttered and busy if you try to match with all the colors.

via heritageofscotland.com

DotsDot or polka dot pattern is a minimalistic and classy design. Commonly found in shirts and ties, the size of the dots vary as well. For a more subtle, sophisticated look, the smaller dots are highly recommended. Much like the Gingham pattern, dots are fun to work with. If you prefer traditional and safe colors like black and navy, a shirt with a white dot pattern can add a tasteful amount of flair.

via 4khdwallpapers.com

PaisleyThis next pattern has been around the block and back. And with men’s high end fashion being on the rise, I doubt that it’ll be fading away anytime soon. Quite bold and eccentric in design, the paisley pattern always seems to be saying, “Hey look at me!” When wearing Paisley, try to wear it with solid and darker colors. Doing so will add a bit of contrast to your outfit.

via bows-n-ties.com

HerringboneHerringbone, much like paisley, is another pattern that keeps returning to the limelight time and time again. A timeless design such as this, deserves a place on our list. Common with shirt, suits, jackets and ties, the Herringbone pattern.

Lets face it, no matter how careful you are, you’re going to have to deal with spills and other fabric related mishaps. Being fashion conscious doesn’t mean that you’re less likely to make a mess. And yes, a simple wash or a trip to the dry cleaners can solve that problem. But frequent trips to the local cleaners can take a toll on your wallet. So, what is the solution? Start by embracing technology.

Fabric technology is advancing at an alarming rate. Discovery of synthetic materials are providing clothing designers with the ability to manufacture outfits that are more durable, water resistant and wrinkle free. With these new materials anything from pants, shirts, jackets and even jeans can be made more stain repellent. Your clothing won’t be completely water or stain proof, but it’ll lessen the blow left by some serious stains. The same can be said about “wrinkle-free” shirts. They won’t be completely “wrinkle-free,” but they are much easier to maintain and require far less ironing than the average shirt.

via Ledge Pants

In the wrinkle free department, chemically enhanced cotton allows brands like LL Bean, Gap, J. Crew and Banana Republic to offer a collection of soft and low-maintenance shirts. They also come in a variety of collar designs; from spread to the traditional point collar. But before running out to raid the shirt aisle, remember that they are wrinkle-free to a certain point. After some use, ironing may be required.

via eddiebauer

The term stain-repellent and hydrophobic are two terms that are synonymous to each other. The hydrophobic characteristics of a stain-repellent clothing prevent liquids from being directly absorbed into the fabric. They often remain as small beads above the fabric. The wearer can then wipe off the liquid using a tissue without the fear of smudging and staining.

Whether you’re a cubicle creature, a king of the hill or a window office executive, a nice clean shirt is a staple in your wardrobe. In the meeting room, a sit-down with clients or social gatherings, a form fitting shirt could make or break any situation. And even if you are stylishly oblivious, you might’ve noticed that the shirt pattern that looks oddly familiar to a traditional picnic table cover is trending. Because of this, the shirt game is saturated with brands that carry this style. First off, if you’ve been calling it the “picnic table pattern”, lets start off by calling the shirt design by its rightful name, “gingham”.

Twillory follows this same design trend with a collection of gingham shirts; with spread and button-down collar options (for more info on collars). Made in five colors, all the shirts ooze quality and an attention to detail. Any brand can stitch similar fabrics together and sell it for competitive prices. But the gingham shirts from Twillory, give the feeling that you are getting more than what you paid for.

The fabric is hardy yet smooth and it feels like the shirt can handle many washes and battles with the iron. At a 120 cloth count, it is tightly woven. Also, the cuffs provide an extra bit of adjustability with another set of buttons. Up front, the shirt is adorned with mother of pearl buttons; commonly found in high-end shirts. And remember that “attention to detail” feel mentioned earlier, well the spread collars come with steel collar stays.

For $79, it is rather affordable for what it offers. But, be sure to know your measurements. An individual with a small body frame might find a medium, loose fitting for a tailored fit. Find them at Twillory.

In his posh second floor studio overlooking Bryant Park, designer Nick Graham, creator of Joe Boxer, showcased his upcoming collection of shirts and ties. While all of NYC was enjoying an unusually warm fall, the tables, shelves and hangers inside the studio were adorned with colorful apparel; giving a spring/summer vibe. With this season in mind, Nick developed styles and patterns synonymous with that time of the year. Shirts in different shades of green, blue, yellow, red, gingham and pinstripe patterns were just a few of the items on display. But the event wasn’t all about shirts. The line also showcased bows and ties, in the similar eccentric yet tame designs; funky lobsters, red camo and crossbones to name a few.

The collection is sold as single pieces as well as sets; tie and shirt. Tastefully prepared, they are catered to the consumer who needs a little boost picking colors to match. Style Kits are priced at $99, shirts alone for $69 and bows and ties for $59. You can find the new line at Macy’s or at Nick Graham.